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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 16, 2004)
July 16.2004» MUSIC ..............▼.............. n an old sewing machine factory, sand wiched between a machine shop and a trail er park, rests the Rock ’n’ Roll Camp for Girls. Rather than making lanyards and roasting marshmallows, these girls spend a week in July getting their hands on the tools they need to create their own rock hand. Started as a senior project in women’s stud ies at Portland State University, the camp out grew two venues before coming to the 5,000- square-foot warehouse near Marine Drive. Its past two homes, Crystal Ballroom and PSU, couldn’t accommodate the growing demand for a summer camp that could give girls, says direc tor Misty McElroy, the “unique tools to make it as a girl in a culture that exploits, rather then values, their voices.” Four years ago McElroy had a vision. She had worked as a music technician and roadie for more than nine years and struggled through “intolerable misogyny, sexism and homophobia.” This frustration resulted in a senior practicum— every paper and project that had the potential became connected to the camp, including McElroy’s final thesis. The girls camp became the brainchild of a frustrated feminist and queer indie rocker. As founder, McElroy does everything from organizing benefit shows to finding sponsors, with the help of a handful of dedicated rock camp enthusiasts. In between studying and writing papers, McElroy found the time to design the Web page and logo while recruiting teachers and soliciting donations. It was a brilliant idea, she thought, but hadn’t someone else already thought of it? Apparently not, even though the camp is so popular, she had to add another session this year. becoming enfranchised through the rock camp. “Many campers who attend know that they are different and can’t figure out why they feel ostracized or shamed for a certain feeling,” shares McElroy. The camp aims to address why there aren’t more women in rock while unleashing each girl’s inner Joan Jett. The role of counselors as role models only fur thers the confidence and strength that each girl gains through her participation. “Most importantly,” states McElroy, “girls see queer women in the roles they want to he in and receive enormous validation for that, often for the first time in their lives.” Though enrollment It's a good thing Misty McElroy was a pissed-off dyke feminist roadie or Portland might have never seen the Rock ’n has more than doubled Roll Camp for Girls since that first year, the More instrument donations came in from ents of young girls and women.” Each has a camp remains true to its mission statement. other supportive hands (Le Tigre, King Cobra, role in the construction and empowerment of Any girl who has the passion and desire can The Donnas), and guest speakers and panelists the whole girl. “Our workshops support being a attend, space permitting. (Slots fill up months' from many Portland bands (The Haggard, strong woman in a music context,” explains in advance.) Scholarships are available to McElroy. Sleater-Kinney) signed on. cover the tuition, which has risen to $300, and Now in its fourth year, the rock camp splits Besides workshops, a typical rock camp minority girls are targeted, as it’s likely their each day into morning and afternoon pro afternoon consists of two hours of musical path to rockstardom has more obstacles. grams. Every day starts off with an all-camp instruction followed by more than two hours of Despite financial struggles, the camp has assembly featuring warm-ups and cheesy sing- hand practice. All campers have the choice of expanded to include the Girls Rock Institute n July 2001, the first learning vocals, keyboards, drums, bass or elec alongs. Self-reliance and Ladies Rock Camp, the former a year- weeklong camp workshops of varying tric guitar. round after school program designed to contin began. For $20, a girl kinds follow— for ue the spirit of the summer camp while con in grades six through example, zine publish alfway through the week, the girls form necting girls to recording studios and perform 12 could get a head ing, self-defense, song- their own hands, some of which continue ers in the Portland music scene, and the latter start into the world of writing, media literacy, performing after camp ends. Pom Pom for women older than 18 who could have ben rock. Though the stage presence, history Meltdown, The Fringe and The Hellcats are a efited from a program like the rock camp when of women in rock, few hands formed through the camp that have tuition was a fraction they were younger. of the $300-a-head visual arts. stayed together. In a warehouse painted with an image of a operating cost, the One popular work Fortier-Kuttner and her 10-year-old sister, girl holding a guitar almost as big as she is, the camp survived thanks Zayna Langer, formed Black Peppercorns at last shop is on size oppres Rock ’n’ Roll Camp for Girls promotes motiva to people in high sion. “It seemed really year’s rock camp and went on to play at Noc tion, self-reliance and empowerment through ” turnal and Portland coffeehouses. They have a places responding to interesting to have big music. j n —Misty McElroy people there to talk the need. C D out and run their own Web page— with the help of their parents. about being big,” says McElroy reports Learn more about the R ock ’ n ’ R oll C amp FOR Every girl gets a chance to play onstage guitarist Io Fortier-Kuttner, a 10-year-old for GlRLS at www.girlsrockcamp.org. Cam per Finale there was one day when the phone didn’t stop with her band during two public performances mer camper. “The workshop reaffirmed how I ringing. People across the country and the globe Showcases are 7 p .m . July 24 and 31 at Aladdin at Aladdin Theater the last night of each ses felt. Fat is beautiful.” offered themselves or their services for the bet Theater, 3017 S .E . Milwaukie Ave. Tickets are sion; the shows sell out every year. Each workshop fits into the camp’s mission terment of a rock camp for girls. An Ebay auc $5 at the box office. Once rather isolated, queer girls are also tion was arranged with donations from the likes statement, which is to “encourage, engage and making and producing their own music after ADINA LEPP is a Portland free-lance writer. of Beastie Boys, Alanis Morissette and Pearl Jam. showcase musical, artistic and individual tal I “Girls see queer wom en in the roles they want to be in and receive enorm ous validation for that, often for the first time in their lives eatingout eatingout H eatingout eatingout eatingout eatingout eatingout eatingout G R EA T S T E A K D IN N E R S LUNCH 11 -.30-2:00 Tues. - Sat. «Si DINNER 5:00-9:00 Tues. - Sat. Cafe g a r d e n c a je /t S n o T p i l T i o l C l e r J v l n - i t 'S i n y m o l H a p p y M our ‘ppa FU LL BA R Experience T h e Flavors o f New M exico 1634 S.E. Bybee Blvd. • (5 0 3 ) 2 3 5 -9 1 1 4 EAT A L O N E Wit ’re not a national chain o f expensive steak houses. We’re a Portland, Oregon favorite. 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